A bowl-shaped ring of bones at the base of the spine that supports body weight and houses pelvic organs.
Structure
The pelvis is formed by the paired hip bones, each composed of fused ilium, ischium, and pubis, plus the sacrum and coccyx behind. The two hip bones meet anteriorly at the pubic symphysis.
Function
The pelvis distributes upper-body load to the femurs and absorbs forces from the legs during walking and running. The acetabulum on each side forms a deep socket for the head of the femur.
Differences
The female pelvis is generally wider and shallower with a larger pelvic outlet to accommodate childbirth. The male pelvis tends to be narrower and taller with stronger bone markings for muscle attachments.
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Pelvis starts with P and ends with S. Browse other body parts along the same letter.
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